Often when someone succeeds another person, folks will say, “He/she has big shoes to fill”. After Jesus’ short but power-packed three years of ministry, He told his followers something that surely shocked them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12 NKJV). Sounds like filling big sandals!
Don’t Bargain with God
More than likely, we all have lied or committed “false witness” in the recent past. What am I talking about? You know all those “terms of agreement” boxes you have checked and signed-off-on; those thousand-word, small print, legal “gobbly goop” things that no one ever reads yet you confirmed as read and understood by initialing. I have done it too! I am not making a case for reading all of that but to get you think about letting your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’
Journey Update: September 2019
We received sad news from Haiti this past month. The mother of Pastor Baptiste died on August 20th. She had a stroke some time ago and just never recovered from it. We assisted the family with the funeral—thanks to everyone who helped financially with the funeral.
God Still Speaks!
I recently read an article written by a nationally recognized, evangelical pastor who claimed that God only speaks today through the Bible. He rejected the idea that we mortals could receive ANY communication from God except from the Bible. His theory even denied one could receive a “calling” from God or any direct guidance or leading of the Holy Spirit. When I finished reading his words, I felt a great sadness for him and those who followed his teaching. You are mistaken dear pastor—God still speaks!
Making Sense of Rain (and Life)
This morning, I was holding my little one-year old granddaughter on the front porch while it was raining. She was looking so inquisitively at the rain. She was watching the rain, I was watching her, and just thinking, “What is she thinking?” She was trying to figure out all the sights and sounds in her little world and I was her observer.
I still have memories of being a small boy and trying to make sense of the world. A child’s brain runs on overload to keep track and process all the new stimuli it receives. Have you ever wondered why a small child asks so many “Why?” questions?
Continue reading “Making Sense of Rain (and Life)”
Hate is Bloodless Murder
How you ever said with clenched teeth, “Awh, I could just kill him!” Yep, just about ninety-nine percent of us has said something like that. Thankfully, we probably didn’t mean it. There are millions of good, godly people who get angry in the immediate, but get over it in the long run.
Continue reading “Hate is Bloodless Murder”Light of Life
If you follow any news, there is no question that there is an evil darkness in the world. People are frantic about what to do. In the United States we have had two mass killings almost back-to-back. In the political world there has been a rush to win the blame game. All have agreed that evil is at work, but no one wants to really name the true source of evil. Satan is on a rampage to kill, steal, and destroy but to the world elites, this would only be an archaic, outdated, and even unthinkable description of the source of this type of evil.
Journey Update: August 2019
The old timers would say we are in the dog days of summer. I have heard this all my life and envision lazy hound dogs seeking a cool shade under an old farmhouse porch. However, the “dog days” of summer goes back to Roman times when they associated the star, Sirius (Dog Star) with the hottest days of summer. It is during this time the tilt of the earth causes the Northern Hemisphere to be the hottest time because our hemisphere gets a more direct hit of the sun’s rays.
Persecution from a Christian Perspective
On a typical Sunday morning in the United States, as we ease into our comfortable pews if someone were to ask us, “Are you comfortable?” Our response may be about the pew or the temperature level in the church. While in other places of the world “comfortable” is not a consideration in their Christianity. They may have looked over their shoulder as they turned down the street leading to the gathering of the saints. The cramped quarters or the temperature level is the least of their concerns. Continue reading “Persecution from a Christian Perspective”
The Blessed, Look Like This!!
There have been thousands of books written about being successful, rich, happy, fulfilled, and the list seems to never end. Everyone seems to be looking for that formula of life that will bring the blessings of peace and joy.
Jesus began a sermon with some verses we call the Beatitudes (Blessings). It is not a formula but a lifestyle likened unto Jesus. For the follower of Jesus, these are not optional nuggets of wisdom but the principles for our lives as we journey with Jesus.
Pathway Journey 